Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsotowac’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental  Ipomoea  plant named ‘Balsotowac’, characterized by its dark purple-colored foliage, and vigorous, climbing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsotowac’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant botanically known as Ipomoea batatas and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsotowac’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during January 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of ornamental Ipomoea cultivars with a vigorous, climbing habit.

The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Ipomoea batatas breeding selection coded 206-006, not patented, characterized by its dark green-colored foliage and vigorous, spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,573, characterized by its small to medium-sized heart to spade-shaped dark purple leaves and moderately vigorous, compact to moderately compact, mounded-trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2015 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2015 in Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsotowac’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea plant:

-   -   1. Dark purple-colored foliage; and     -   2. Vigorous, climbing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a different foliage color. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a different leaf venation color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available ornamental Ipomoea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is SolarPower Black ‘Balsolablack’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,528. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsolablack’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a different growth habit than         plants of ‘Balsolablack’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a leaf shape that is         different from plants of ‘Balsolablack’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsotowac’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were pinched one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Balsotowac’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf of ‘Balsotowac’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were pinched one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas cultivar Balsotowac. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Ipomoea batatas breeding             selection coded 206-006, not patented.         -   Male parent.—‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple’, U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 18,573. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 to 4 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium thickness.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Tuber description.—Not available, tuber formation not             observed. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 4 to 5 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, climbing             growth habit.         -   Size.—Height (as supported for climbing): Approximately             37.0 cm. Height (unsupported for climbing): Approximately             13.0 cm. Length (unsupported for climbing): Approximately             115.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 2.         -   Branch.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong, flexible. Length:             Approximately 115.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 9.0 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color of young stems: 187B. Color of mature stems:             187A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 15. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate, spiral.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Deltoid to cordate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Truncate to cordate. Venation pattern:             Palmate with arcuate venation in the center lamina. Length             of mature leaf: Approximately 8.2 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 146A with             an overlay of N186A, venation same color as lamina. Color of             lower surface of young foliage: Closest to 146C with an             overlay of N186C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             Darker than N186A with venation of 187A. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: Closest to N186C with venation of             N186D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 187A. -   Flowering description: Not available, flower and seed formation not     observed. The new ornamental Ipomoea cultivar is grown as a foliage     plant and is not grown under conditions that are conducive to flower     production. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Ipomoea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of an ornamental Ipomoea plant named ‘Balsotowac’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 